Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system

Abstract

Method and apparatus for busy override in an internet protocol-based telephone system are described. In some examples, a first communication attempt of a third party to a first party is received, the first party being in an established communication session with a second party. A busy operation is performed with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt. At least one additional communication attempt by the third party is received. A busy override operation is performed with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of processing communication attempts during an established communication session, comprising:
 receiving a first communication attempt by a third party to a first party, the first party being in the established communication session with a second party; 
 performing a busy operation with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt; 
 receiving at least one additional communication attempt by the third party; and 
 performing a busy override operation with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 initiating a timer in response to the first communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is based on elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 initiating a counter that maintains a count of the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is further based on the count of the counter, and 
 wherein the threshold pattern includes at least one threshold count of the counter within at least one threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one additional communication attempt includes a second communication attempt, and wherein the threshold pattern includes the first communication attempt and the second communication attempt being within a threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of performing the busy override operation comprises:
 notifying the first party during the established communication session of attempted communication by the third party. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the act of performing the busy operation comprises one of:
 connecting the third party to a voicemail box of the first party; 
 forwarding the third party to a fourth party; 
 returning a busy signal to the third party; or 
 connecting the third party to an interactive voice response (IVR) system. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first communication attempt includes an identifier, wherein the timer is associated with the identifier, and wherein each of the at least one additional communication attempt is associated with the identifier. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for processing communication attempts during an established communication session over a communication network, comprising:
 a) at least one processor; and 
 b) at least one storage device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, perform a method including
 receiving a first communication attempt by a third party to a first party, the first party being in the established communication session with a second party; 
 performing a busy operation with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt; 
 receiving at least one additional communication attempt by the third party; and 
 performing a busy override operation with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the method performed further includes:
 initiating a timer in response to the first communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is based on elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the method performed further includes:
 initiating a counter that maintains a count of the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is further based on the count of the counter, and 
 wherein the threshold pattern includes at least one threshold count of the counter within at least one threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one additional communication attempt includes a second communication attempt, and wherein the threshold pattern includes the first communication attempt and the second communication attempt being within a threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the act of performing the busy override operation includes:
 notifying the first party during the established communication session of attempted communication by the third party. 
 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the act of performing the busy operation includes one of:
 connecting the third party to a voicemail box of the first party; 
 forwarding the third party to a fourth party; 
 returning a busy signal to the third party; or 
 connecting the third party to an interactive voice response (IVR) system. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the first communication attempt includes an identifier, wherein the timer is associated with the identifier, and wherein each of the at least one additional communication attempt is associated with the identifier. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform a method of processing communication attempts during an established communication session, comprising:
 receiving a first communication attempt by a third party to a first party, the first party being in the established communication session with a second party; 
 performing a busy operation with respect to the third party in response to the first communication attempt; 
 receiving at least one additional communication attempt by the third party; and 
 performing a busy override operation with respect to the first party in response to the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt satisfying at least a threshold pattern of communication attempts. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 initiating a timer in response to the first communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is based on elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 initiating a counter that maintains a count of the first communication attempt and the at least one additional communication attempt; 
 wherein the threshold pattern is further based on the count of the counter, and 
 wherein the threshold pattern includes at least one threshold count of the counter within at least one threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one additional communication attempt includes a second communication attempt, and wherein the threshold pattern includes the first communication attempt and the second communication attempt being within a threshold elapsed time of the timer. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the act of performing the busy override operation comprises:
 notifying the first party during the established communication session of attempted communication by the third party. 
 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first communication attempt includes an identifier, wherein the timer is associated with the identifier, and wherein each of the at least one additional communication attempt is associated with the identifier.